Half in the river wind, half in the clouds

Jiang Zuo's homework became more and more diligent, and the teacher's classes were delayed and delayed. Every time the family waited for Jiang Zuo to eat, they were hungry. Jiang's father simply set aside a separate study room for Jiang Zuo to study, and asked the kitchen to prepare all the food.

Occasionally I would like to give some pointers, but my knowledge is limited and I am afraid that it will become a negative influence.

Jiang's mother burned incense and prayed to Buddha every day, watching the yard to prevent any noise from making, fearing that her son, who was studying hard, would be disturbed. Even New Year's Eve was kept simple, with no entertainment other than the necessary procedures of worshiping ancestors and staying up all night.

In such a tense atmosphere, Jiang Feng cried out that he was under tremendous pressure and that the candidates might need psychological counseling.

After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Jiang Zuo set off, with all his belongings ready. Shen Guxing sent a letter before the New Year, and the captain's wife also came to say that she had received instructions from her brother-in-law and asked Jiang Zuo to stay at the mansion, and all matters should be handled as appropriate.

Jiang's father was happy to follow his advice and thanked him repeatedly.

After Jiang Zuo left, life returned to normal.

Father Jiang was busy. The Protectorate was newly established. The nobles of Chang'an came to Liangzhou in batches at the beginning of the year. Some were inspectors, some were purifiers, and some were in charge of salt and grain. Father Jiang had only drunk tea and read newspapers for many years, and his working ability had seriously deteriorated. He had been busy with official business and banquets for several days, and his legs and feet were weak and his face was sallow. He was a man with a sword above his head. For the sake of his health, he had not been to the concubine's room for many days, which frightened Aunt Yun to be more cautious.

Jiang Erge had not returned from the training ground for many days, and the one who claimed to be the young master had rarely appeared since he was kicked hard by Jiang Feng. Jiang Fei grabbed Gao Yu and asked, "What is your brother busy with? He usually appears before my eyes, why haven't I seen him for a few days?"

Gao Yu spread his hands and said helplessly, "My brother has been acting really strange lately. He often smiles foolishly and blushes, and sometimes mutters to himself. My mother asked me to find a magician to exorcise the evil spirits for him, and now he is better. The day before yesterday, he told me to feed his Aobai on time, and then he went to the training ground, and he hasn't come back yet."

"What do you mean by 'Ao Bai'?" Jiang's mother couldn't help but interrupt.

"Isn't it the goshawk that Sister Feng caught a few years ago? I don't know why it was given such a weird name!"

Jiang Fei was lost in thought as he listened. He stroked the teacup with his fingers and murmured, "It's a bit strange."

Jiang Feng was concentrating on painting the painting "Red Beans Growing in the South", but he still accidentally smudged a spot.

As he was speaking, he heard Nanny Sun shouting in front of him, "The master is back."

Before he finished speaking, Jiang's father had already come in. Jiang's mother and the three girls stood up in a hurry. Seeing that Jiang's father looked frightened, Jiang's mother reached out to take the official hat. Before she could ask anything, Jiang's father reached out to take the remaining half of Jiang's mother's tea, drank it in one breath, and then said, "Something big has happened!"

Jiang's father is a cautious person, afraid of things like a rat. In the officialdom over the years, he has not sought to make achievements but to avoid mistakes. Although he has lived a mediocre life for so many years, he is like a fish in water in the officialdom of Liangzhou. His superiors like him and his subordinates are capable. He has never been so panicked.

As Jiang's father continued to speak, Jiang Feng began to think rapidly, racking his brains to collect that little bit of historical knowledge - in the first year of Shenlong, the five ministers Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanwei, Huan Yanfan and Xue Sixing and others led the left and right Yulin soldiers to kill Wu Zetian's male favorites Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, forcing Wu Zetian to abdicate, and Zhongzong Li Xian became emperor for the second time.

Li Xian was the third son of Wu Zetian and Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi. Because Wu Zetian wanted to be the emperor, his two older brothers died under Wu Zetian's sword. Li Xian himself was also pushed to the throne by Wu Zetian, then deposed, and finally exiled to Luling.

He also has a younger brother and a younger sister. His younger sister is the famous Princess Taiping in history, and his younger brother is Ruizong Li Dan, who also ascended the throne twice. Li Dan has an even more famous son, Emperor Xuanzong Li Longji.

Jiang Feng knew that the first ten years after the restoration of the Li family were unstable. During these ten years, four emperors emerged and four palace coups occurred. In addition to Li Xian's own sudden death, he also lost two sons.

Purges were carried out one after another, so is it finally Liangzhou's turn now? The five ministers who participated in the Shenlong coup and supported Li Xian's restoration all died a miserable death. When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact? Although she took out the 100,000 taels of silver, she was unable to save "Yuan Ying under the nest". After asking around, she only knew that she was sold to the capital and there was no news of her since then.

Now Empress Wei is ruling the country from behind the scenes; her legitimate daughter Princess Anle is eyeing the position of Crown Princess; Wu Sansi has slept with the Empress and returned to the center of power; although Li Chongjun was reluctantly made Crown Prince, the power of the Eastern Palace is weakening; Prince Li Dan has no desires, but he has a group of ambitious sons, all of whom are eyeing the throne.

And she, holding the "hot potato" given to her by Yuan Ying, was in a state of panic all day long.

Although fate had already secretly chosen the chosen one, it ignored the world's obsession and allowed the struggle for power to set off a bloody storm. Since the Xuanwu Gate Incident and the Shenlong Coup, the third round of purges in the political center of the prosperous Tang Dynasty has quietly begun. The supreme throne of royal power has once again torn off its gorgeous veil and opened its hideous bloody mouth.

The struggle for royal power is nothing more than the power of people’s hearts and military forces.

Liangzhou set up Anxi Protectorate as a strategic fortress with 100,000 troops stationed there. It was a battleground for military strategists. It is not difficult to understand the purges in the Liangzhou army. Whoever has absolute control over the army now has sovereignty in this struggle.

When the upper class fights, the lower class suffers. If you stand on the wrong side, you will lose your life. After all, the stupid second brother of the Jiang family and Gao Hui next door are just the leaders of the soldiers, so they are not important. The one from the eldest sister's family should be careful.

Jiang Feng was just thinking about it when he heard his father say, "The emperor is merciful and only beheaded Zhang Changyi, Zhang Changqi, and Zhang Tongxiu, who were members of the Zhang brothers' faction. The rest were only demoted. But over the past year or so, the situation in the court has suddenly become tense. The faction of the queen and princess, the faction of the Wu family, and the faction of the crown prince are actually confronting each other!"

Jiang's mother patted her chest and said, "We in Liangzhou only defend against foreign enemies. We are far away from Chang'an and have never been involved in party disputes. The court disputes will not affect us."

Jiang Feng grinned, thinking to himself that such a place is a battleground for military strategists, how could he escape this purge safely?

As expected, Jiang's father shook his head and said, "Woman! What a big deal! Liangzhou has 300,000 troops, which is more than three times the military strength of the capital. Your Majesty can't be careless. Captain Xiang was beheaded a few days ago, and Lord Dou said that General Guo Qianguan has just been imprisoned!"

Jiang's mother, Fei, Feng and Gao Yu were all shocked. Jiang Feng said, "General Guo once escorted Emperor Gaozong to Mount Tai to offer sacrifices to the gods, and was granted the title of Duke of Taiyuan. Moreover, I heard from my eldest brother-in-law that the old general led the army strictly, was loyal to the court, and never formed a clique for personal gain. How come..."

"That old guy has eyes on top of his head and a very bad temper. He survived Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu, so I don't believe he didn't curry favor with the emperor! Now that the new emperor is gaining more power, how can those who support the army and are self-reliant escape!" Jiang Fei interrupted.

Because of Gao Hui, she had always been at odds with Qin Ru, and even began to dislike Qin Ru's grandfather.

Father Jiang heard this and shouted, "Don't talk nonsense, you little brat!"

Jiang's mother didn't care about these things. She was only concerned about General Guo's situation. She said anxiously, "What's going on? Please tell me, so that the children won't have to make random guesses!"

Father Jiang took a sip of tea and said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Li Chongjun and the Prince of Zhongshan Li Longye arrived in Liangzhou more than a month ago."

Jiang Fei asked, "Could it be that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince personally put General Guo in jail? This is unacceptable!"

Jiang Feng said: "Even if His Majesty comes in person, he cannot put a second-rank duke in jail without reason. What happened?" Jiang Feng really couldn't stand Jiang Fei's gloating look.

Father Jiang continued, "When the Crown Prince first arrived in Liangzhou, he was making a report in the camp. General Guo sat with his back to the palace, talking and laughing with his subordinates, not taking the Crown Prince seriously at all. The Left Imperial Guard General Dugu Yizhi reported him on the spot for his disrespect, but in the end it was Prince Zhongshan Li Longye who came out to mediate, taking pity on General Guo's old age and hangover, and forgave him. The Crown Prince was fine, but Dugu Yizhi refused to give in, and kept arguing with the old general, and finally the two of them drew their swords! Who knew that he accidentally knocked down the red-lettered iron certificate that His Majesty had just bestowed."

Jiang's mother exclaimed, "Ah!" and said after a long while, "Eldest brother-in-law was promoted by Mr. Guo all the way, he wouldn't..."

Jiang's father said, "This matter is of great importance, and the Crown Prince dare not take the initiative. Dugu Yizhi has already taken off his official uniform and returned to the capital to plead guilty. The Prince of Zhongshan ordered General Guo to be detained, and in the presence of the generals in front of the tent, he and the Crown Prince personally wrote a petition to present to Your Majesty."

Jiang Feng understood. Theoretically speaking, when the spokesperson of the imperial power is delivering an important speech, it would be a crime if you coughed loudly. Old man Guo was so arrogant. Not only was he rude in front of the prince, he also accidentally knocked over the imperial edict. The prince had every reason to punish him.

Comrade Sha Seng, whom we are all familiar with, was demoted from the Curtain-Pulling General to a water monster, and he did nothing more than overturn the Jade Emperor's glass cup.

But to be honest, there is still a lot of room for maneuver here. It depends on whether the prince really wants to punish General Guo for his serious crime.

But Jiang Feng guessed what the prince was going to do - writing a petition in front of General Guo's old subordinates! The content of this petition must be biased towards Old Man Guo, otherwise the Liangzhou soldiers who followed the old man to the death would not agree.

If the prince is not here for the imperial seal, then he is here for the military power and the people's hearts! Guo Qianguan has been working in the northwest for decades, and his followers are all over the army. Taking this old man is equivalent to taking over the entire northwest army. This is a godsend opportunity, why not take it?

But Jiang Feng didn't think that Crown Prince Li Chongjun could have such a strategy. If he could think a little better, he would not give away the kingdom he had obtained.

Jiang's mother was still worried about her eldest son-in-law's career, and Jiang's father was drinking tea with a frown on his face. Although Jiang Fei felt that old man Guo was a bit pitiful, she couldn't help feeling a little secretly happy in her heart.

Jiang Feng felt that it was particularly important for the Northwest Fortress to maintain a stable morale. It was not enough to replace an unpopular prince or an unknown prince, and he did not dare to replace all the generals of the garrison. There were a lot of leaders above Liu's brother-in-law, and if he did not rush forward, he would not be able to clean up his head. Seeing that no one was talking, she changed the subject and said, "I wonder how is the big brother?"

Jiang's mother immediately perked up, and Jiang Fei also came back to her senses from her trance. Jiang's father said with a happy face, "Speaking of the Spring Examination, Lord Dou said that His Majesty has arranged the examination this year, and now we are just waiting for the results to be announced."

Jiang Feng smiled and said, "It's a time of trouble for the court. After the fall of the two Zhangs, there are so many vacancies. It's a good time to recruit people. Your Majesty has just ascended the throne and has been busy with these assessments and appointments. These students who have passed the exams will be promoted by Your Majesty and become the emperor's disciples! With your talent, you will definitely be able to pass it in one fell swoop!"

Father Jiang twisted his beard and looked at his little daughter, and the more he looked, the more satisfied he became. He couldn't help but wonder in his heart: Why does his old mother always dislike her for being perverse?

Then he smiled and said, "Feng'er is quite knowledgeable. Lord Dou said the same thing."

In fact, Dou Huairang had another sentence that Jiang's father did not convey: "Although the imperial edict has not been published, according to my exclusive inside information, your son is on the list!"

Although Jiang's father is not very reliable, his sense of confidentiality is first-class.

Even though he is a little worse than Jiang Zuo, it is enough to fool the women in the backyard.